Ricardo Salinas Pliego

In January 2026, the SAT announced that a business group — publicly identified as Grupo Salinas — would pay 32.1329 billion pesos in accordance with judicial decisions and mechanisms provided under the Tax Code. An initial payment of approximately 10.4 billion was made, with the remainder due in 18 instalments; in May 2026, Hacienda reported that nearly 13.98 billion had already been paid.

State of the evidence

Documented

TV Azteca stopped servicing a bond issue originally worth 400 million dollars as scheduled and obtained protective measures in Mexico. In September 2025, a New York federal judge ordered it to withdraw two Mexican proceedings and refrain from initiating new ones to block creditors; the alleged debt then exceeded 500 million dollars.

Attribution

Indirectly implicated

In 2026, TV Azteca initiated concurso mercantil proceedings in Mexico. Its US creditors expressed concern over alleged delaying tactics and possible transfers of related assets, demanded greater transparency and sought to involve Grupo Salinas and its chairman in payment.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Indirectly implicated

In 2024, the Mexican government stated that Grupo Salinas companies faced 17 tax disputes representing 53 billion pesos, alongside other tax assessments, for an announced total exceeding 63 billion. Much of the dispute concerned the former tax consolidation regime.

State of the evidence

Documented

In November 2025, the full bench of the Supreme Court resolved and rejected several appeals involving Grupo Salinas companies, particularly Grupo Elektra and TV Azteca, upholding the adverse tax decisions issued by lower courts.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Indirectly implicated

In October 2025, creditors asked the New York court to impose contempt sanctions on TV Azteca and sought to extend the consequences to Grupo Salinas and potentially Ricardo Salinas Pliego, alleging that the Mexican proceedings had not been withdrawn as ordered.

Attribution

Indirectly implicated

After Salinas Pliego announced that Banco Azteca was working to become the first Mexican bank to accept bitcoin, Banco de México, the SHCP and CNBV reiterated that virtual assets were not legal tender and that financial institutions were not authorised to offer them to the public without the applicable regulatory framework.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Indirectly implicated

During the pandemic, Salinas Pliego publicly criticised lockdowns, encouraged continued economic activity and made highly controversial remarks urging people under lockdown to resume their lives despite the risks.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

In April 2020, TV Azteca's main news programme urged viewers to disregard the recommendations of Deputy Health Secretary Hugo López-Gatell, triggering major controversy during the public health emergency.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

Attribution

Indirectly implicated

Employees of Grupo Salinas companies reported dismissals they considered arbitrary and shortcomings in workplace protection during the pandemic, including among vulnerable employees working remotely.

State of the evidence

Documented

Salinas consented to a final judgment with the SEC without admitting or denying the allegations. The settlement included a permanent injunction against certain violations, financial payments and a five-year prohibition, subject to limited exceptions, on serving as an officer or director of a US public company.

Attribution

Accused

In January 2005, the US SEC brought proceedings against Ricardo Salinas Pliego, TV Azteca and other executives, alleging a scheme to conceal his interest in Codisco and a gain of approximately 109 million dollars linked to an Unefon debt transaction, together with misleading disclosures to investors and directors.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Accused